Does the 'S' in SQL stand for "standard" or "structured"?

Question

I'm thinking "structured", but my dad claims that when he taught a class that involved SQL (decades ago), they used "standard". I was wondering if this changed over time, or is he mistaken? I googled it with "standard" and did see some pages that said that's what it stands for. Any old timers willing to give a history lesson?

Answer 1

Wikipedia says first:

SQL often referred to as Structured Query Language.

And then further down:

SQL was developed at IBM by Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce in the early 1970s. This version, initially called SEQUEL (Structured English Query Language).

There's no mention of "standard query language" on the whole page.

The other test of course is to search Google for "structured query language" vs "standard query language". For which I currently get 913,000 results compared to 124,000. So clearly "structured" wins, however interestingly there was apparently a divided preference at one time. This site says:

In the early days of the system there was divided preference between Standard Query Language and Structured Query Language but it did not make a whole lot of difference since most people most of the time called it by the acronym SQL. Now the overwhelming but not complete preference is for Structured Query Language.

Answer 2

It stands for Structured.

The precursor was called SEQUEL, standing for Structured English QUEry Language.

From wikipedia:

The acronym SEQUEL was later changed to SQL because "SEQUEL" was a trademark

Answer 3

In the beginning of Oracle Databases, for instance, it was called 'Standard Query Language'. Yes, it is a structured language...but it is known to us old schoolers has Standard Query Language (SQL).

Now if you want to call it Structure that is entirely up to you. Maybe we should use sSQL or lower case sql has the acronym instead of SQL in upper caps. Either way its entirely up to you. There is always someone trying to put a different twist on things. Whatever acronym you use get the sequel script right.